Breakfast!

[realmrsreynolds]

Come and help yourself!
Scrambled Eggs
Bacon/Turkey Bacon
Watermelon/Cantaloupe
Pancakes
Pork Sausage
Bagels
Oatmeal

Sallie sets out the last serving tray along the bartop next to the dishes and silverware.

What? Sallie had a few hours' time on her hands. Come take advantage.

[ooc: Come have breakfast. Threadhopping encouraged, but Sallie will tag all comers if wanted.]

Comments

[missmarybennet]

At this, she smiles.

"I'm very glad to hear so."

"Also, please forgive me," she adds. "I fear I've intruded into topics that are unpleasant for you."

"Not that his coming back was unpleasant." Hastily. "But that he had to go at all."

[realmrsreynolds]

"It's alright, Mary. Promise. As we get to know one another - if I didn't like talkin' about somethin', I just wouldn't."

[missmarybennet]

Mary nods.

"I can be difficult here, knowing what is off limits and what is not."

At home, conversation is bound by stricter rules.

[realmrsreynolds]

"You've got fronts to keep up with at home that don't exist here - if anything I'd think you'd find Milliways to be easier."

[missmarybennet]

"One might think so, but it's not always the case, I find," Mary says.

"I know the rules at home. When you grow up with the rules and know them so well, it's harder to misstep."

Which is not to say that she doesn't sometimes. Knowing the rules does not equal perfection in following them.

"Milliways is not as bound by rules, but that can make the boundaries harder to see. And I have to take care that habits formed here don't carry over too much at home."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Is it so hard to speak freely in your world?"

[missmarybennet]

"I've never really thought it so, but I think most people here would find it very constricting indeed."

As Mary says, she's grown up with the rules, so they are normal to her. And she knows the ways to operate around them, as people do when they are within their own society.

"For instance, there are rules about introductions. People are supposed to be introduced by a party who is acquainted with both individuals before they converse. Particularly if you are speaking of conversation between those of different sexes. A lady is never supposed to introduce herself to strange people."

"I break that one all the time here. People seem to expect it, and as I knew no one when I first came here, I'd never have been able to talk to anyone."

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie's eyes go wide a little bit at that particular example.

"Must be very inbred as a group - everyone has to already know everyone else to meet anyone new."

[missmarybennet]

"Not quite as bad as that. Though, it's true that social circles can be kept rather closed."

"It's so much easier for men. There are few cases where it's not proper for them to make new acquaintances. Then they introduce them to their wives and daughters, or to any other ladies with whom they're acquainted."

"Of course, most things are easier for men."

Mary's eyes may roll a bit.

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie joins Mary in the rolling of eyes.

"That don't change any. Or at least, very little."

[missmarybennet]

"Indeed?"

Mary smiles wryly.

"How do you manage yours?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"With a spatula and a paycheck."

[missmarybennet]

At this, Mary just starts giggling.

She can't even say why. Perhaps it's the mental image of Mrs. Reynolds brandishing a cooking implement in one hand and a pound note in the other.

"I'm sorry." She manages to choke the laughter back. "Do you beat them with the spatula, or win their loyalty through cooking?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"Whichever I feel inclined to do at the time. Mostly the former."

[missmarybennet]

Mary grins.

"I'm fairly certain Mother has never tried that particular method on Father."

"She mostly invokes her nerves, or reminds him of his duty to get his daughters all married off before he dies."

The latter has been Mrs. Bennet's go-to of late. Five unmarried daughters creates quite a preoccupation.

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie tries to not wrinkle her nose too hard at that, and mostly fails.

"You're not allowed to not get married either."

[missmarybennet]

"Well, I suppose we're allowed not to, but it would make things difficult, especially since none of us can inherit the estate. It will pass to a male cousin when Father dies."

Granted, Mr. Collins had attempted to do right by the Bennets there, but it hadn't worked out.

"I'm not entirely sure I want to get married at all. But that would leave me a burden on my parents. Or, assuming my sisters were to make good matches, it would make me a hanger-on in their households, so..."

Mary shrugs.

"I suppose I'll have to find someone who will have me eventually."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Who will have you?" Sallie groans.

"Men should line up 'round the block for a lady with a brain."

[missmarybennet]

"I fear much more of a premium is placed on beauty and accomplishment. Not to mention connections and fortune."

Mary feels that she cannot make a great claim to any of these things. She's not all that certain that her brain is all that superior, either.

"And I'm afraid I'm dismal at the romantic games that other young ladies employ to their favor."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Me too. Don't worry on it though."

[missmarybennet]

"But you're much older and have already been married."

What was it the narration was saying about conversational missteps, earlier?

Mary's face suddenly looks very much like a tomato.

"I...I just meant...you're fortunate to be at a stage in your life where you don't have to occupy yourself with such worries."

Mary refrains from sliding under the table, but she's sorely tempted.

[realmrsreynolds]

"No, I just get a completely different kind o' worry. I've lived by myself most of my adult life Mary - 's only now that I appreciate the idea of havin' a man in my life for companionship."

[missmarybennet]

The red tide is slowly subsiding.

"Are you thinking of marrying again?"

Some women do, though others seem quite content to appreciate the independence of their widowhood.

[realmrsreynolds]

"Oh I don't think that'd happen. Not unless I moved to his world, and he spent more time as a human."

Uh.

"It's still quite new."

[missmarybennet]

Mary fortifies herself with a sip of juice.

"He's....er. Not human?"

It's far more a tone of curiosity than anything like disapproval.